Modular communication device and system

Abstract

The technology disclosed herein relates to a modular communication device and a system. The modular communication device has a speaker carrier and an electronics module. The speaker carrier has a speaker and an attachment portion, and the electronics module has a wireless transceiver. The speaker carrier and the electronics module are detachably coupled so that the electronics module provides audio signals to the speaker when the speaker carrier and electronics module are coupled. The speaker carrier can be removed from and attached to the electronic module. In one embodiment, the system generally has two or more modular communication devices and a base station that allows communication between the modular communication devices.

We claim: 
     
       1. A communication system comprising:
 a modular communication device, the modular communication device comprising:
 a carrier comprising: 
 a speaker; 
 a microphone; 
 a microcontroller; and 
 an attachment portion, the attachment portion comprising a first plurality of electrical contacts; and 
 an electronics module comprising:
 a wireless transceiver; 
 a microcontroller; and 
 an attachment portion comprising a second plurality of electrical contacts; 
 
 
 wherein the carrier and the electronics module are adapted to be mechanically and electrically detachably coupled at the attachment portion of the carrier and the attachment portion of the electronics module; 
 wherein the electronics module and the carrier are adapted such that:
 at least two of the first plurality of electrical contacts are coupled with at least two of the second plurality of electrical contacts such that the electronics module is in electronic communication with the carrier; 
 the electronics module is physically supported by the carrier; 
 the microcontroller of the electronics module is adapted to communicate with the microcontroller of the carrier over the first and second plurality of electrical contacts to authenticate the carrier using a challenge and response authentication protocol including the use of a cryptographic function; and 
 the wireless transceiver of the electronics module is adapted to:
 wirelessly receive audio signals from a wireless intercom base station and provide the audio signals to the carrier to be played by the speaker; and 
 wirelessly transmit audio signals received by the microphone to the 
 
 wireless intercom base station using a wireless signal; 
 
 wherein, when the carrier and the electronics module are not mechanically and electrically coupled, the audio signals are not passed between the carrier and the electronics module; 
 wherein the detachably coupled carrier and electronic module are designed for module interconnectivity; and 
 wherein the electronics module comprises a user input device for changing a wireless channel of the wireless transceiver. 
 
     
     
       2. The communication system of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier further comprises a boom with the microphone disposed thereon. 
     
     
       3. The communication system of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier further comprises one or more status lights. 
     
     
       4. The communication system of  claim 3 , wherein one of the one or more status lights is in communication with the wireless transceiver and is configured to illuminate when the wireless transceiver receives a vehicle detection notification. 
     
     
       5. The communication system of  claim 1 , wherein the microcontroller of the carrier is disposed on a circuit board. 
     
     
       6. A wireless inter headset comprising:
 a carrier comprising: 
 a speaker; 
 a microphone; and 
 an attachment portion, the attachment portion comprising a first plurality of electrical contacts; 
 an electronics module comprising:
 a wireless transceiver; and 
 a housing comprising a tab and a second plurality of electrical contacts; 
 
 wherein the carrier and the electronics module are adapted to be mechanically and electrically detachably coupled, the tab of the housing received by a corresponding cavity in the carrier, the carrier and the electronics module adapted to couple with each other by first angling the housing toward the carrier while the tab is inserted into the cavity of the carrier and then pressing a face of the housing against the carrier such that mating structures snap into place to hold the electronics module onto the carrier; 
 the electronics module and the carrier are adapted such that:
 at least two of the first plurality of electrical contacts are coupled with at least two of the second plurality of electrical contacts such that the electronics module is in electronic communication with the carrier; 
 the electronics module is physically supported by the carrier; 
 the wireless transceiver of the electronics module is adapted to wirelessly receive audio signals from a wireless intercom base station and provide the audio signals to the carrier to be played by the speaker; and 
 the wireless transceiver also adapted to transmit audio signals received by the microphone to the wireless intercom base station using a wireless signal; 
 
 wherein, when the carrier and the electronics module are not mechanically and electrically coupled, no audio signals are passed between the carrier and the electronics module; 
 wherein the carrier can be removed from and attached to the electronic module; and 
 wherein the electronics module comprises a user input device for changing a wireless channel of the wireless transceiver. 
 
     
     
       7. The wireless intercom headset of  claim 6 , wherein the electronics module further comprises a status light. 
     
     
       8. The wireless intercom headset of  claim 6 , wherein the electronics module further comprises an authentication protocol. 
     
     
       9. The wireless intercom headset of  claim 6 , wherein the electronics module further comprises multimedia playback memory. 
     
     
       10. The wireless intercom headset of  claim 6 , wherein the electronics module further comprises a USB interface. 
     
     
       11. The wireless intercom headset of  claim 6 , wherein the electronics module further comprises audio recording memory and video recording memory. 
     
     
       12. The wireless intercom headset of  claim 6 , further comprising an actuator configured to provide tactile feedback to a device user upon receipt of a vehicle detection notification. 
     
     
       13. A wireless intercom headset comprising:
 a carrier comprising:
 a speaker; 
 a microphone; 
 a microcontroller; and 
 an attachment portion, the attachment portion comprising a first plurality of electrical contacts; 
 
 an electronics module comprising:
 a wireless transceiver; 
 a microcontroller; and 
 an attachment portion comprising a tab and a second plurality of electrical contacts; 
 wherein the carrier and the electronics module are adapted to be mechanically and electrically detachably coupled, the tab of the attachment portion received by a corresponding cavity in the carrier, the carrier and the electronics module adapted to couple with each other by first angling a housing of the electronics module toward the carrier while the tab is inserted into the cavity of the carrier and then pressing a face of the housing against the carrier such that mating structures snap into place to hold the electronics module onto the carrier; 
 the electronics module and the carrier are adapted such that:
 at least two of the first plurality of electrical contacts are coupled with at least two of the second plurality of electrical contacts such that the electronics module is in electronic communication with the carrier; and 
 the electronics module is physically supported by the carrier; 
 the microcontroller of the electronics module is adapted to communicate with the microcontroller of the carrier over the first and second plurality of electrical contacts to authenticate the carrier; and 
 the wireless transceiver of the electronics module is adapted to:
 wirelessly receive audio signals from a wireless intercom base station and provide the audio signals to the carrier to be played by the speaker; and 
 wirelessly transmit audio signals received by the microphone to the wireless intercom base station using a wireless signal; 
 
 
 
 wherein, when the carrier and the electronics module are not mechanically and electrically coupled, the audio signals are not passed between the carrier and the electronics module; 
 wherein the detachably coupled carrier and electronic module are designed for modular interconnectivity; and 
 wherein the electronics module comprises a user input device for changing a wireless channel of the wireless transceiver. 
 
     
     
       14. The electronics module of  claim 13 , further comprising a capacitive switch in communication with the microcontroller of the electronics module; and
 a user input device in communication with the capacitive switch. 
 
     
     
       15. The communication system of  claim 1 , comprising an intercom base station and a second modular communication device, a second carrier of the second modular communication device adapted to both attach to the electronics module of the carrier of the modular communication device and a second electronics module of the second modular communication device. 
     
     
       16. The communication system of  claim 8 , wherein the electronics module of the modular communication device is adapted to both attach to the carrier of the modular communication device and the second carrier of the second modular communication device. 
     
     
       17. The communication system of  claim 8 , wherein the audio signals transmitted by the modular communication device are received by the intercom base station and transmitted to the second modular communication device. 
     
     
       18. The wireless intercom headset of  claim 13 , wherein the housing comprises a battery compartment for receiving a battery.